Pictured from left- Peter Casey, Lauren Casey, Jennifer Allen, Principal- Karen Green, Father Csizmar, Kristy Tretter, Jonathan Tretter, Mike Reich, Bob Zickl and Julie Yunker
The public phase of the “All Apostles Legacy Campaign”, a $2 million fundraising initiative to support the future of St. Joseph’s Regional School, held a campaign kickoff event at St. Joseph’s School on Summit Street in Batavia on Thursday afternoon.
The campaign has already privately raised $1.25 million from 66 donors. The fundraising initiative is aimed at supporting the future of the school, which is in its 157th year. Monies raised will go towards investments in student support, faculty development, infrastructure improvements and long -term endowment growth.
Campaign co-chairs, Peter and Lauren Casey and Jonathan and Kristi Tretter are leading the Legacy Campaign.
“For our family, St. Joseph Regional School has been a source of comfort and calm in an otherwise busy and unsettled world,” said the Caseys.
“The faculty and staff—people who have been extensions of us at school—foster a community that is loving and supportive. Parents, grandparents, and others lend a hand with other families in times of need. We have seen this first-hand on many touching occasions—people really care for others, and everyone looks out for the kids first.”
“We were both born and raised in the public school system, and while we are grateful for the education we received, our experience as parents has opened our eyes to the profound value of a Christian education,” said the Tretters. “St. Joes has shown us how faith-based learning can shape not only a child’s mind, but also their heart and character. The integration of spiritual development with academic excellence has made a lasting impact on our children and on us as a family.”
Since 2019, St. Joseph’s Regional School has operated independently after losing financial support from both Resurrection Parish and the Buffalo Diocese. In response, school leaders developed a new strategic financial plan, culminating in the launch of the “All Apostles Legacy Campaign” through the St. Joseph’s Regional School Batavia Foundation, Inc.
“It is important to have a choice. And, you know, it is a different choice. For some of our families, it’s a religious choice. It might be academics. Might be a social reason, but you know, whatever the reason is, if they were having difficulty in another school, or they want something different for their kids, we want to be able to be here for that,” says Karen Green, Principal at St. Joseph’s Regional School.
“It is like a second family here. It truly is. I think you can see that tonight. You know, grandparents are here with their grandkids. Aunts and uncles are here, you know, and they love coming back here for things. That’s what’s great, to see all of them coming back, you know, just to have a meal together, bounce houses, ice cream. It’s like a second family. And once you’ve been here and experienced that, you really feel it. I think again, we’re smaller, so you get to know everyone, and also, I, you know, always say it’s different, because we can talk about God on a daily basis, and we can incorporate that into everything that we do.”
Green is celebrating her 30th year at St. Joseph’s. The school currently has 175 students in grades PreK-6th and there is a waiting list at some grade levels.
“Everything that we’re raising in this campaign is going to that foundation, so that that money is protected, and then we can use it the way we want to use it. And we want people to know that. I know there’s a lot of nervousness about supporting Catholic schools and parishes right now, and we want our supporters to know that that money is going to a safe place so that it will be invested here at the school.”
This Saturday, September 6th, for the first time, St. Joseph’s Regional School and Notre Dame Jr. Sr. H.S. have planned an event together. A Farm to Table event at the Le Royan at Mercy Grove, 7758 Main Road in Le Roy at 6:00p.m. The event is a fundraiser for both schools.
“We are two totally separate schools, but we do like to call ourselves partner schools. Just in this past year, we’ve been starting to have joint board meetings, so we brought our boards together to meet. It’s a Farm to Table event, and that’s the first event that Notre Dame and St. Josephs collaborated on, and in the time that I’ve been here anyways that’s never happened.”
For more information about the “All Apostles Legacy Campaign” or to make a contribution, please visit https://www.sjsbatavia.org/legacy-campaign.html
Mike Reich, the Legacy Campaign Chairperson, along with the SJRS board, started the drive in August 2023.
During the campaign kickoff, guests enjoyed food from TF Browns, ice cream from The Pink Cow, face painting by The Painted Pixie, a bounce house provided by KK Bounce House, and shade from a tent provided by Sterling Tents.
